Healthy proprioception is reflected in correct navigation of the environment
The Latin word proprius (which can be translated as “own” ) and the English ending perception (that is, “perception” ) gave rise to the term proprioception . This concept came to our language as proprioception .
Unconscious perception
This notion is used to refer to the unconscious perception that a human being has of his or her body position and movements . This record goes beyond vision.
Proprioception is usually considered a sense that transcends the conventional five. The brain receives information about the position of the body and its link with the environment through what is captured by the eyes, but also from the data provided by the structures of the ligaments, tendons, muscles, etc. All these contents, generated through what is known as proprioception, are used at the brain level for the development of responses that allow various types of movements to be executed with precision.
It is important to note that proprioception is vital for injury prevention . This system, by allowing knowledge of the exact position of the body parts, indicates how to react in each situation to avoid blows and damage.
But the relevance of proprioception also reaches the emotional system, since our relationship with other living beings and, consequently, our degree of satisfaction as individuals belonging to a social group depends on its correct functioning.
Training and development
It is possible to train and develop proprioception to promote reflex and automatic responses . The most common resource is to generate external stimuli that promote this type of reaction .
Proprioception training is carried out through coordination and balance exercises. Generally, balls, hoops and other accessories are used that contribute to increasing the difficulty of the actions.
proprioceptive system
All the nerves and receptors that are part of proprioception are known by the name of the proprioceptive system , for greater practicality when developing theories around this concept. As with proprioception, this is also accepted by the medical community, so it is not part of alternative or popular medicine . Above we talked about the difference with the five conventional senses, since this is introception , so it perceives the internal state of our organism.
When there is a dysfunction in the proprioception system, one of the most common signs is clumsiness in movements, which can manifest itself in difficulty coordinating both hands, using common tools or keeping the body and head in an upright position. Other signs include problems concentrating, trunk rigidity , lack of danger perception, and restlessness in posture.
A common sign of proprioceptive deficiency is lack of balance
vestibular system
Along with the proprioceptive system there is the vestibular system, thanks to its complementary work it is possible to maintain muscle tone and automatically coordinate the movements of the head, eyes and the rest of the body, all without losing stability in the visual field. The vestibular system is related to spatial control and balance, and is located in the inner ear. Its function is essential for our bodily movement since it allows us to orient ourselves appropriately in space.
This system can also fail, and its dysfunction is perceived in signs such as problems maintaining the body's balance, difficulties moving through our environment or performing automatic movements, and a decrease in muscle tone. Visual perception is affected, leading to abnormal difficulty tracking moving objects, recording visual data , and transcribing words, among other problems.